As Arya paces back and forth she fumes. Malich knew. He knew the truth about her parents and he didn’t tell her. He hid them in the Summer Court of all places where his ruthless brothers could lay harm to them. It’s both clever and stupid. Kahlem wouldn’t think to look under his own nose for them, but having them so close to him could have gone wrong in so many ways.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡcebfchltiz

“Wearing a hole in the floor?” Alara asks, entering the throne room...copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ7L7k9yYE

Narrowing her eyes at her sister Arya asks, “Tell me, if you can see so much, why couldn’t you see that they were right under our noses this whole time?” copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOSMgDWXMA

“My ability is dialed to only one channel Arya…you. And anyone whose lifeline crosses yours.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYO8e0qAuI

“And when you slit my throat?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FrhryBA7z

“I knew you would die,” Alara’s eyes meet the floor. “And then I knew the Goddesses of light would resurrect you.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAn8mEMjCy

“Which begs the question how much further will you go to protect him and how many persons will you use along the way because they’re expendable to you?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRLEaxZ2UU

“I am not your enemy Arya.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R5AbovatK

“No? Only time will tell, won’t it?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7RWhHOcfP

Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of footsteps entering the council room. Evander comes into view followed by two people, a man and woman she doesn’t recognize, and three small children. Arya takes in the children clutching the woman’s hands and then the man. A knot forms in her throat. Could this be…?copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1GeGRLGTG

The woman’s gaze slides over to Arya and Alara. A hint of recognition sparks in her eyes and she clasps her hand to her mouth. Tears form in her eyes and the man standing next to her follows her gaze. He too eyes both Alara and Arya. He’s the first to approach them.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUxFuJ4ZTx

“Our father,” Alara smiles back. The man purses his brows together in confusion. “Why can’t I see your lifeline?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCBVQhMCYF

“We had it shielded long ago so no one would ever know your whereabouts,” Fayrah answers.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyzPe4yi4s

She approaches with the little ones now clinging to her skirt. Cupping her hand to the side of Arya’s face she exhales. Arya tries to feel something…anything, but she doesn’t. These people feel and look like strangers. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO7vqJrK9A

Uncomfortable Arya backs out of Fayrah’s grasp, earning a questioning glance from Alara. “These are not our parents,” Arya narrows her eyes at them. She doesn’t know how she knows, she just does. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡjodUj4c6Ga

Shaking her head, Arya storms out into the corridor. Once she’s away from view, she leans against the wall and clenches her eyes shut. She spent all this time waiting…all this time hoping to find the Vales or some shred of evidence as to her true identity, only to reach yet another dead-end. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZJmPYqogu

“Are you okay?” Lumi asks. She leans against the wall next to Arya and offers her a supportive smile.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7iYCJI4tR

“Trying to figure out who I am has been nothing but a fools errand.” Arya sighs. “All this time wasted. How many times have we searched for them? How many times have we gone to the Summer Court? How long has Malich known of their whereabouts and kept it to himself? The only reason he tells me now is because he believes they are in danger. But what else has my beloved not told me? What else is he hiding from me?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMfSHzWUGD

Seeing how hurt Arya is, Lumi tries to soothe her best friend. “Doesn’t the fact that he would think to warn you point to the fact that he still loves you?” Lumi suggests.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sCPOrNfP4

“He left me to be King of the Winter Court. He doesn’t get to love me,” Arya spits.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGb2EOMnTf

Lumi shrugs. “Maybe he didn’t have a choice.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡez2urK3oEJ

“This is Malich Jarrah we’re talking about. His only devotion is to himself and the crown. He isn’t the abdicating kind Lumi. Do you really believe he’d give up the Summer and Winter Court titles to come play house with me?” Arya scoffs.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KcEz16mgV

“No, but who says he has to?” Lumi asks.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0CC3hrPEk

“Life!” She shouts. “He cannot be the King of the Winter Court, the Redlands, and the Seelie Court. Not to mention the Prince of the Summer Court. He’d be spreading himself too thin. And lets not forget he has a wife who carries his child.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SU7mmRqKw

“That’s the part that really bothers you, isn’t it?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNgmrPoycE

“Of course it is. Weare supposed to be betrothed. I’msupposed to be carrying his child, not her,” Arya sulks, “nothing is the way it should be. The way he promisedme it would. And I cannot hand over the Seelie Kingdom to a Summer Court Prince. My people would revolt. They already feel as if Malich Jarrah has too much power.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDF5gJmHz0

“Then perhaps what’s happening between you and Malich is happening for a reason. Perhaps its Anan’s way of balancing the world by evening the playing field.” Lumi suggests.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ETWMfiEG3

“And ripping my heart out? What part of that balances the world? Bringing these imposters to me…what part of that screams balance?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQQrcihAQt

Lumi shrugs, “They’ve taken something from you that is irreplaceable and given you back something of equal measure. The Vale’s may or may not be your parents, but they could have answers Arya.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk6VqnEN4e

“Lumi’s right,” Alara steps into the corridor taking up space against the wall on Arya’s other side.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7TH3GXmkD

Scrunching her brow together Arya asks, “What do you mean?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡquthWGAdhq

“I mean Fayrah and Cassian Vale are not our parents, they confirmed it. They were paid by a seer to deliver us to Malich Jarrah.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxLNsba7Zf

Arya narrows her eyes, turning to her sister. “Both of us? Not just me?” Alara nods. Yet another lie of Malich’s she’s uncovered. “Malich said he found me in the snow.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNmfuqVsNf

It’s no secret Alara and Malich have a love-hate relationship. She wants Arya to give up on him, but how can she? He’s imprinted on her life, etching himself into her marrow. And he gave her a warning at least. Had he not have warned her, the Vale’s would be dead and she wouldn’t be closer to the truth. He helped them escape despite knowing Arya would learn the truth about his lies. That has to count for something.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA5hoxszFr

“Did they say anything else? Who is this seer that paid them?”43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr5Pc1ZmEg Alara shrugs. “Your guess is as good as mine. Either they don’t know or they aren’t telling. And I can’t read them.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1fbgKCccp

Before Alara can speak, Evander interrupts them. “Your Majesty, King Rayne has just arrived outside the perimeter wall with a small protective detail.” copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rB9AZqt0T

Arya whips her head in his direction, her heart lodged in her throat. Her eyes grow wide and she looks to Lumi. For what she has no clue. Only that she needs an anchor and leaning on her best friend is the most comforting thing she can do as that name rocks her to her core. She turns to Alara and instructs her. “See the Vale’s to comfortable rooms.” Alara nods and leaves the room. Arya flicks her eyes to Evander. “What does he want?” copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqPXsXdDZC

“He wouldn’t say. Navi is-”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PH53ya6JH

Before he can finish Arya hurries to the throne room. Ihsan broke Navi’s heart and she’s finally gotten to a place where she’s not drowning herself in spirits or entertaining a different male in her bed every night. Ihsan being here might undo all of the progress she’s made.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS871J7sd7

They reach the throne room and Arya swallows hard. Navi stands at the back of the room, arms clasped behind her back, expressionless as Ihsan stands only a few feet away from her. From the look on Ihsan’s face, Arya doubts he even notices the girl. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNxaK08YD7

“King Rayne,” Arya nods to him. Sweet Anan… he looks even better than she remembers. “Before we begin, Navi, you are relieved of your duties for the time being.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEWiJ0RT6A

Something like relief washes over Navi’s face. She nods gratefully to Arya and quickly leaves the room. She and Ihsan glance briefly at one another before she exits. Once she’s gone, Ihsan extends an arm to Arya, but she refuses to take it. Instead she starts to walk and he follows. “To what do I owe this pleasure King Rayne?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCtKJutQXH

“I’ve received word that the Summer Court, Winter Court and Spring Court are all conspiring to move against you,” he informs her. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjuvuewCda

Arya didn’t put it past Kahlem to wage war against her. She made a move against him that would undoubtedly put his future in jeopardy. “Kahlem’s an arse and I knew the Princess was jealous, but Asherah…what quarrel does she and the Spring Court have with me?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNOG6yHXsN

“None. But now that Malich is King of the Winter Court, and Kahlem holds his leash, Asherah will back up her nephew no matter what,” Ihsan explains.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3p1N9whZt

Fixing her eyes on him she asks. “What of the Unseelie Court, the Fall Court and the Autumn Court? I assume you’re not here to deliver news best passed through other means.” copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXMstgH0TU

“You have our support, for whatever that’s worth, the support of the Fall Court as long as you allow them to lay siege to the Winter Court once this war is over, and the Autumn Court is…undecided.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCIZjPx0NZ

“Undecided? Any way to help tip the odds in our favor?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl3enQnT8m

“I’ve met with the Autumn Court and its run by Queen Yari Boleyn. She’s a young Queen of fifteen Cycles, and she wields her Kingdom like a toy. Her biggest strength is her armies, her taste for all things blood and gore, and her advisor Penki. Penki will instruct her to hold out to see who has the better offer and the better odds.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7kazOqhOj

Arya chews pensively on her bottom lip. Malich is now King of the Winter Court, which means he now has three kingdoms under his control. He has the Redlands, the Winter Court, and the Spring Court. Three Kingdoms Kahlem will use to bury her. Soon she’ll have to kill friend and foe alike if she can’t find a way out of this.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZWUZgJwhx

“Perhaps if we can find whatever leverage his brother’s have over him and get rid of it,” Evander suggests. Lumi seconds his thought.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wFoGfd7w2

Taking a deep breath Arya confides, “Kahlem has his mother. He released his father to him once Malich held up his end of the bargain and married the Winter Princess. That’s why Malich requested my presence. Kahlem rendered their father incapacitated with an injection of darkbane into his brain. Only light power from a powerful lightbearer could destroy it. I presume his mother is suffering a similar fate, only I doubt Malich knows where she is. If he did he’d tell his brothers to go fuck themselves and they’d be going to war instead. As long as Kahlem holds his mother hostage, Malich won’t move against him. He’ll be coming after us.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI1oD1EnxV

They all took deep breaths. The full gravity of the situation meant there would be a lot of useless bloodshed. “The Red Legion is one of the most powerful forces within the planes,” Ihsan sighs.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡU31NCk321c

“Yes, but if anyone can rival them it would be the army of the Fall Court. You should have seen them in action. If I hadn’t come to Malich’s rescue they would’ve laid siege to the Winter Court.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5JguqwIy3

“Yes, but that wasn’t the full might of the Red Legion. What you saw was a single granule of sand compared to his full army. We’re talking half a million soldiers Arya. With all of our forces combined, we can put up a valiant effort, but we’ll need more than that if we plan to walk away from this.” Ihsan sounds hopeful.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZLMopN2Ml

“How did you come across this information?” Arya asks, curiously.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHoZu1ky4m

“Malich sent it to him,” Alara calls out from behind them. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFsuWWVtFu

Ihsan blanches when he sees Alara and unsheathes his sword in the blink of an eye. His guards follow suit. The last time he saw her she’d flung them bothoff that cliff. “Anan’s cock!” He gasps, “What is she doing here?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡwptibSHZUu

“It’s a long story,” Arya sighs, “But lets just say her particular gifts have come in quite handy.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTbISGKceP

Ihsan tears his gaze away from her to stare at Arya in wild-eyed bewilderment. “How can you even trust her after what she did to you?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZu1urYqUD

“Perhaps a conversation for a later time,” Arya gives him a warning glance. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq2oIegqdb

Sighing heavily, he tries his best to ignore the girl who’d sentenced them both to death. The one he swore to kill if he ever saw her again. There are bigger more pressing matters to contend with. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx46gWM191

“Kill me later,” Alara tells him, “Right now, you need to listen. I see a battle and blood at the point where all of the Courts meet. I see Malich, his brothers, and his Aunt on one side, with you, Arya and King Volc on the other. Beyond that, I don’t see anything so I can’t tell you how this ends. If Kahlem succeeds in wooing the young Queen to his cause, it will mean the end of the rest of us. You mustwin the Autumn Court.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI1lJwMIWH

“Why would Kahlem start a war with us?” Arya asks.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR8ofRCvhQ

“He knows there will always be doubt about his right to rule as long as Malich lives. The only way to solidify his reign is to rule it all. Right now Malich has three Kingdoms at his disposal, while Kahlem has one. He wishes to even the playing field,” Alara explains. “And his beloved wife Sen has died a horrific death. A death he believes you orchestrated.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbnLiEH5FR

“Sen is dead?” Alara nods.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vz8QjED1B

“Good. I never liked that woman,” Arya replies. “What of her child?”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnstLHlndC

“Yes, but for how long?” Evander asks. “Even with Malich subdued he still poses a threat.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡITZxvFEL2P

“He wants it all,” Arya realizes. “He doesn’t just want to rule this plane, he wants to rule them all. Everything he’s done so far has just been an accumulation of power, including subduing Malich. Malich posed the biggest threat and now that he’s been neutralized…”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh885yqdEm

“Anan help us,” Evander gasps.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkETtpbkvR

“That doesn’t make any sense. Malich has one of the largest and most skilled armies, but Arya youare the biggest threat,” Ihsan thinks out loud. “He needs Malich and his army because they pose the greatest threat to you.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeLoLg3p26

“He’s right,” Alara stares off into space, her eyes darting to and fro as if she’s reading some invisible manuscript. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJnnRsWiFB

A knot forms in Arya’s throat. “He’s planning to use Malich against me. He wants us to kill each other off.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2VjVpI7Je

“And he knew Malich would never lift a finger against you unless he could be forced,” Lumi gasps.copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8sKwe0AD3

“The leverage.” Alara adds. copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTM3hEweXb

“If I kill Malich, his army will finish what he started and wipe us out. And if Malich succeeds in killing me, Kahlem won’t simply let him walk away. Malich’s army will be smaller in numbers and easier to manage. Kahlem won’t risk his own soldiers in battle. He doesn’t have to. Malich’s army alone will be enough, and this war will weaken us both at the same time. When the dust clears and the blood of our soldiers saturate the soil, Kahlem will kill Malich.” Arya realizes. “He’ll have it all.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCeKVaaDhT

Several men come rushing into the palace bloody and panting. “Your majesty, please forgive us, but we were ambushed just outside of our territory. They’re soldiers from the Red King and they took everything we have. They’re amassing an army at the border between the Summer Court and Seelie Court.”copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg1k0yy19c